Penguins

No not real penguins, but our appearance after we tried on our cold weather kit. We have never had specialist outdoor clothes rather cobbling together outfits from various bits and pieces that we possessed. However we decided that as we are going to venture to the Antarctic then we had better some good protective clothing.

Mario

The first problem was that it was about twenty degrees in our house so it was difficult to experience the full effect of the clothes. As a result it got more awkward to put on each successive layer. Some of the clothes I did not even know exist before, what on earth is a neck gaiter. I don’t really know, but it certainly keeps your neck warm. We have to have two head covers, something that fits closely to the scalp, topped with a waterproof contraption with covers for the ears.

The result was that we looked like Michelin men, with just eyes and noses showing. It was certainly warm, but as you can see we will not be moving very quickly. More I think lumbering over the ice. The other realisation is that it will also take a considerable time to get dressed and undressed.

Nigel

 It is humbling to think that the next time we dress in this kit we will be in the Antarctic, looking at real penguins.